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< Back Neilson Powless Neilson Powless Oneida Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2022 Neilson Powless burst onto the United States road racing scene as a 19-year-old and found instant success, finishing ninth overall at the 2016 Amgen Tour of California and winning a stage at the Tour de l’Avenir. Those results shot him to the World Tour where his adaptability accelerated his learning curve. His sporting family laid the foundation for his future professional success. His mom ran the marathon in the 1992 Olympics. His dad was in the Air Force and raced Ironman’s, winning an award for being the top Ironman finisher who was also in the military. His sister, Shayna is also a professional cyclist who has raced for the US National Team. Family time in the Powless household was spent outdoors: swimming in the lake, running, and riding bikes on the trails in Northern California. Before pursuing cycling, Powless won both XTERRA National and World Championships in 2012. Since entering the World Tour, with most notable results including: Winner of 2021 Klasikoa Donostia San Sebastián and the first time an American has won a World Tour one day race in over a decade, and; 5th place in 2021 Pro World Championships and the best result for an American in over two decades. Competed twice in the Tour de France and first ever North American Native to compete in the Tour de France. Neilson Powless became a professional cyclist in 2018 after stand out performances in the Tour of California, Tour de L’Avenir, and World Championships for U23 cyclists. Since joining the ranks of World Tour professionals. Neilson has most notably led Polka Dot jersey competition as the best climber in the Tour de France for a record 13 days as an American. Neilson has also won professional races across the globe from Europe to Asia. Some of which include the Klasikoa San Sebastián, Japan Cup, Étoile de Bessèges, and the Grand Prix de Marseilles. After finding a niche for himself in 1 day races, Powless now has his eyes set on the prestigious “Monuments” in cycling. In 2023, Powless finished 5th in the cobblestone monument, Ronde Van Vlaanderen. Since then his dream has been to become the first American to win the Ronde Van Vlaanderen. Photo: Getty Images Photo: Getty Images <Back

< Back Pamela White-Hanson Pamela White-Hanson Navajo/Diné Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete/Coach 2025 Born and raised on the Navajo Nation, where the sport of running has ancestral connections, Pamela White-Hanson began running, and developed the strength and endurance throughout the years to help her high school team win four consecutive State Cross Country Team titles. With this passion and success, Pamela was provided the opportunity to run with a team called Wings of America, a non-profit youth development program, during her sophomore year and traveled to New York City to compete in the USA Track and Field National Cross-Country Championships where her team placed runner-up. There, she was in awe of a collegiate team who won the national title which inspired her to attend Adams State College without any knowledge of where or what this school was about. Ready to spread her wings, Pamela White-Hanson left home from the comforts of family, community, and culture two years later to join an elite class of collegiate athletes, who became her second family at Adams State College, an NCAA Division II school in Alamosa, Colorado. As a member of the Adams State cross country team, she helped her team to three NCAA Division II National Championships becoming a six-time All- American and managed to complete two undergraduate degrees in Elementary Education and Exercise Physiology and a Masters in Bilingual Education. In 2000, Pamela received a prestigious Giants Steps award with the National Consortium for Academics and Sports as a Courageous Female Student-Athlete alongside other inductees such as Muhammad Ali and Pat Summit as well as being featured in two magazines, Native Peoples Magazine and the Santa Fean. Pamela worked with the Native youth, one of the most at-risk populations in the United States through Wings of America with the Earth Circle Foundation and gained proficiency to facilitate summer running and fitness camps to Native communities throughout the country. Wings of America used running as a catalyst to empower the youth which also empowered Pamela White-Hanson to become an educator. After running professionally for a couple years with Sports Warriors co-sponsored by ASICS, Pamela begin her education career in Flagstaff, AZ where she joined a unique trilingual school, Puente De Hozhó. Pamela returned to her home language and taught the Diné (Navajo) Language to indigenous students for 16 years. She received Arizona’s Rodell Exemplary Teachers Award for 2010 in Flagstaff and was also nominated for Arizona Teacher of the Year. Today, Pamela White-Hanson continues her passion for working with the Native youth at Sinagua Middle School as well as coaching high school Cross Country and Track at Northland Preparatory Academy (NPA). Last fall, her girl’s NPA cross country team won a State Title and the NPA Boys received runner-up with her youngest son on the team. Pamela White-Hanson’s legacy continues and is married to college sweetheart, Brent Hanson and is currently raising three beautiful sons and have been foster parents to many children. Her eldest is in the workforces, one who is currently running collegiately for Fort Lewis College in Durango, CO and her youngest is running in high school at Northland Prep where she currently coaches. <Back

< Back Terry Felix Terry Felix Sts'ailes First Nation Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2024 Raised on the Chehalis Reserve, Terry Felix did not play organized soccer until high school in tenth grade. At 16, he joined a men’s team coached by his father Pete. First Nations were not invited to play in non-Native tournaments in the 1970s except for one tournament where a Whitecaps’ scout was present and approached Terry’s father for Terry to try out for the youth team. In September 1981 he signed a professional contract with the Vancouver Whitecaps. On July 10, 1983, he made his professional debut for the Whitecaps against the New York Cosmos in front of 50,000 fans. In doing so he became the first Indigenous soccer player to play professionally in North America. In 1983 Felix represented Canada in the Olympic Qualifiers for the Canada Men’s National Soccer Team and earned three caps. In doing so he became the first Indigenous soccer player to represent Canada. Felix played for the Canadian Olympic Soccer Team and scored two goals including the winner in the first of a two-game series in May, 1983. He played a three-game series for the Canadian National Soccer Team against the Scotland National Team in June, 1983. He suffered a career-ending injury while training with the Olympic Soccer Team just before the 1984 Olympics. In September, 2018, Felix was inducted into the British Columbia (BC) Hall of Fame Aboriginal Sports Gallery. In June, 2020, he was inducted into the BC Soccer Hall of Fame and two years later in June, 2022, he received the honor of the Indspire Award Laureate for Sport. Felix continues to promote and coach Aboriginal Youth Soccer. <Back

< Back Jana Williams Jana Williams Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2023 Jana Williams got her start in tennis the summer before seventh grade. Her older sister wanted tennis lessons, and Jana golf lessons; so they agreed to take them together. After playing in her first tournament, the captain from the high school team convinced her to try out for the varsity team as a seventh grader, playing #4 singles and 8-12th #1. She was in the top 5 in the Northwest section throughout her junior career, qualifying for Jr. Nationals and then in her sophomore year was awarded a scholarship to Nick Bollettieri’s Tennis Academy in Bradenton, FL. After high school she got pregnant with twins. When they were six months old she returned to school at North Hennepin Community College and played on the tennis team for two years, going undefeated both years and qualified for the NJCAA National tournament. The first year she made it to the semifinals before losing, the following year the quarterfinals. After both years she was offered scholarships to play tennis, but instead of moving away from family, she decided to walk on to the University of Minnesota’s tennis team during the 1993-1994 season. Jana became involved with the organization called the North American Indian Tennis Association (NAITA). She was the Jr. Singles champion in 1987, and Open Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles champion and Runner-up in many NAITA Tournaments. She was a past President in 2016. She also directed tennis clinics at UNITY Conference in Oklahoma City and Washington DC along with Riverside Indian Boarding School, Anadarko OK. It was Jana’s goal to bring tennis to the Native communities across the country and brought the NAITA’s tournament to Minnesota in 2016. She now actively competes in Women's NPC Bodybuilding and teaches anyone who wants to learn a healthy lifestyle how to work out and improve their overall health. Her awards included the 2017 NPC FIGURE Master's 35+ 1st place and Overall Champion, the IRON VIKING, Battle of The Falls Overall Champion and the 2019 Master’s Nationals and NPC Women's Open Physique Brew City and Minnesota State 3rd and 4th places. <Back

Haudenosaunee Dehontsigwaehs IIJL WORLD U18 LACROSSE CHAMPIONSHIP (WU18LC) 2016 Gold Medal: Iroquois Team 2026 Induction Category: Year Inducted <Back Bronson Hill, Daris Anderson, Emmett Smith, Jackson Miller, Jaxon Martin, Jesse Longboat, Landon General, Luke Montour, Marshall Powless, Marty Bomberry, Matt Miller, McCoy Abrams, Mike Martin-Abel, Nick Martin, Riley Laforme-Hess, Riley Miller, Ryan Johnson, Sam Gowland, Shane Henry, Sheldon Hill, Tanner Jonathon, Trent Martin Head Coach: Joe Powless Assistant Coach: Mike Miller

< Back Mike Chavez Mike Chavez Crow/Northern Cheyenne Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2025 Mike Chavez was one of the few indigenous men to play basketball at the NCAA Division I level in Montana, and he was honored at the 2023 University of Montana Nike N7 Celebration basketball game. Chavez was a three-time "USA TODAY" all-class player of the year for Montana from 2000- 2002. He was a Street and Smith High School All-American and a McDonald's All-American Nominee. He was also a four-year All-State and All-Conference selection. Chavez played high School basketball for the Heart Butte High School Warriors and the Browning High School Indians from the Blackfeet Indian reservation. He was named State Tournament Most Valuable Player three years in a row and a three-time state champion in 2000, 2001, and 2002. In 2002, Chavez had multiple offers from colleges. He chose the University of Montana Grizzlies over Oregon State, Oregon, Montana State, UMASS and New Mexico. Chavez played in the NCAA tournament with the nation’s elite as the Griz made it into the second round in 2006 before losing to Boston College. Out of all the Big Dance teams, he was the only Native player in the tournament. In 2007, Chavez won the prestigious Naseby Rhinehart Award. Chavez also made the All-Decade team for 2000-2010 with the University of Montana Basketball Program. He had his difficulties with culture shock, but with perseverance, hard work and his culture, Chavez finished an illustrious career at the University of Montana. Following his graduation from college. Chavez was drafted into The Continental Basketball Association CBA by the Great Falls Explorers. He played professional basketball across the world in FIBA Pro leagues including the Latin Pro League (LNBP) in Guadalajara. Chavez is currently the Athletic Director/Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College in New Town, North Dakota. He lives with his wife Lisa Chavez (Cree/Lakota). <Back

< Back Brett Bucktooth Brett Bucktooth Onondaga Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2024 While playing varsity lacrosse at LaFayette Sr. High School, New York, Brett Bucktooth was named a four-time All League player, a Central NY First Team All Star, and was an All American. He was the team captain and led the team to the Section 3 Championship three times and the team were NYS High School Class “C” State Finals Runner-up. Bucktooth played for the Canadian Jr. A and B teams and played 14 seasons with the Canadian Box Lacrosse Sr. B and A teams. While playing at Syracuse University, Bucktooth played midfield and attack positions and received team and individual honors. He led the Orange with 37 goals and 55 points his senior season. The team were 2004 NCAA D1 National Champions. He was named the 2005 STX/USILA All American Honorable Mention. He was also named to the 2006 STX/USILA All American Second Team, was team captain, and a USILA North-South Team Senior selection. He made the NCAA Tournament Team and the team were in the NCAA D1 Final Four in 2003, 2004 and 2006. Bucktooth had a 12 year professional career. He was the Major League Lacrosse 12th draft pick and played with the Boston Cannons, Rochester Rattlers, and Hamilton Nationals. He was the National Lacrosse League Third Draft Pick and played for the Buffalo Bandits, Vancouver Stealth, and New England Blackwolves. While with the Iroquois Nationals field lacrosse program, Bucktooth was the captain of the 1998 U15 World Games Tournament Festival team. He was named to the 2006 All World Team as a midfielder and was the captain of the 2014 bronze medal team and served as an assistant coach in 2018. During the indoor national team time, he was on the team that won the silver medal in 2007, 2011 and 2015 and he was the captain in 2011 and 2015. Brett is married to Sateiokwen and in her Mohawk language the translation is, “She picks things up evenly”. Fitting as she now harvests medicines and continues to use the language in running her own business. Brett is also a proud father to his children, Brett Jr, and Aura. <Back

< Back Joseph Burton, Jr Joseph Burton, Jr Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2023 Joseph Burton Jr. is a member of the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians, in which he was raised and currently resides on the reservation. Joseph began playing sports at four years old, coached and mentored by his mother, Grandfather Charles “B-Bop” Silvas, aunt, and uncles. As he grew older he singled in on playing basketball which he excelled in. He played at West Valley High School in Hemet, CA where he was four-time MVP, four-time All Sun Belt league champion, and CIF Champion 2008. He continued on to Oregon State University with a full ride basketball scholarship, known as the first Native American in OSU history to receive a basketball scholarship. In addition, he along with Coach Robinson introduced the N7 games to OSU basketball in honor of indigenous culture, moreover becoming an ambassador for Nike N7. At OSU he was acknowledged as the first non-guard to record 1000+ points, 700+ rebounds and 300+ assists. While at OSU he visited the White House and met President Barack Obama on various occasions. Upon graduating in 2013, Joseph continued his professional basketball career overseas starting in Denmark playing for Aalborg Vikings. In the last nine years Joseph has played professional basketball in the Netherlands, Japan, Finland, and France. While playing in the French LNB league he's competed at Pro A and Pro B level being awarded MVP in 2016 and runner up 2017. He currently plays in the French FFBB league for Orchies NM1 Basketball. Averaging 21.8 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 4.1 assists, he is ultimately highly ranked with 30+ efficiency. <Back

< Back Brady Fairbanks Brady Fairbanks Leech Lake Ojibwe Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2022 Brady Fairbanks, 2007 graduate of Cass Lake Bena High School (MN), was a Minnesota High School All-State athlete in football and basketball. During his high school career, Fairbanks was a three-year starter on the basketball team leading CLB to an 83-11 record, including 42-0 in conference play. In 2006-2007, he led CLB to the Class A State Championship game where the team came up just shy of victory in a memorable game. Accomplishments include: • Conference MVP (‘06 and ‘07), • Section 6 MVP (‘06 and ‘07), • Honorable Mention State (‘06), • 2nd Team All State (‘07), • McDonald’s All-American Nominee, • Minnesota Native American Athlete of the Year, • National High School Player of the Year (Native Elite Showcase) Fairbanks accepted a full scholarship to NCAA DII Bemidji State University, becoming a starter and earning a spot on the All-Freshman Team in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). Transferring to Haskell Indian Nations University (HINU) after his junior year, Fairbanks had a historical year becoming the school’s first male athlete to become a NAIA All-American. Accomplishments include: • 7th nationally in scoring (20.9), • 14th in rebounding (6.3), • First Team All-Conference, • Conference New-Comer of the Year, • Team MVP, • 1,000+ Points (Collegiate Career). Photos: Haskell Athletics and Ryan White <Back

Haudenosaunee Dehontsigwaehs IIJL WORLD U16 LACROSSE CHAMPIONSHIP (WU16LC) 2023 Gold Medal: Haudenosaunee Team 2026 Induction Category: Year Inducted <Back Jordan Christjohn, Kingston Delormier, Parker Booth, Trevy Seymour, Hodawe:Je John, Gahowanens Shenandoah, Tehohonwáthe Bomberry, Dee Francis, Chace Cogan, Gawasasche Hill, Kaidyn (Honrahdagwaisro's) Lickers-Henry, Kalem (Howęnadae:) Powless, Roy Thomas, Rohahes Delormier, Taigehdoh Steeprock, Brycin Jones, Kenyon Shenandoah, Everett (Ha’tsihgahdo:d) Stevens, Rhys Kennedy, Lewis White, Jayce Deliomer Head Coach: Brandon Francis Assistant Coach: Adam Bomberry General Manager: Gewas Schindler

Curt Styres Mohawk, Wolf Clan Induction Category: Year Inducted Builder 2024 <Back One of the Six Nations of The Grand River's most successful businessmen and the Owner and GM of the Halifax Thunderbirds NLL Team, Styres is a name synonymous with growing the game of lacrosse. He was raised by his mother Vera, who taught him to work hard, take care of your family, give back to your community and be thankful for the gifts you have been given. Styres is passionate about lacrosse and growing the game on and off of his community. In 2004 he opened of the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena located on Six Nations in summer is the home of many local teams and provides a Winter Lacrosse League for youth to continue to grow their skills in the off season. He has given back in many ways, from donating equipment to youth programs and coaching teams himself to multiple Provincial and National Championships. In his previous role as the lead sponsor for the Arrows Express Jr A team, Styres applied his concept of "put the tools in front of the player," resulting in a run of OLA championships from 2004 to 2007 in which year his arena hosted the Canadian Championship for the Jr As, the Minto Cup. Success seems to follow him whereever he goes as the Championships continued with his previous NLL team, the Rochester Knighthawks, who won three consecutive Champion's Cups 2012-2014. In 2011 and 2018, Styres was recognized for his leadership, knowledge, and commitment by the National Lacrosse League and was awarded the honour of the GM of The Year. In 2019 he moved his Rochester Knighthawks, NLL team to their new home in Halifax, Nova Scotia and became the Halifax Thunderbirds. Styres, along with a rotating group of players and supporters, undertook a 92-day canoe crusade from Six Nations, Ontario to deliver professional lacrosse to Nova Scotia by way of a wooden lacrosse stick in his hands. He strives for greatness in everything he does, keeping the values his mother taught him close to his heart and remaining grounded in the community he loves.

< Back Madison Lavergne Madison Lavergne Métis Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2026 Madison Lavergne is Métis and was a member of the two-time NCAA DIII National Hockey Championship University of Wisconsin-River Falls team. The Falcons won in back-to-back seasons in 2023-24 and 2024-25. She is currently a senior on the team. As a junior in the 2024-25 season, Lavergne was named to the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll. She played in all 31 games with 30 points off 10 goals and 20 assists. She earned the WIAC Player of the Week and Falcon of the Week honors. As a sophomore in the 2023-24 season, Lavergne was named to the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll. She played in all 31 games with 16 points off 10 goals and six assists. She scored four game-winning goals, including the game-winner against Gustavus Adolphus in the NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals. She was named to the NCAA Championship All-Tournament Team. She also earned WIAC Player of the Week and two-times Falcon of the Week honors. As a freshman in the 2023-24 season, Lavergne was named an AHCA All-American Scholar. She also was named to the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll, Lavergne played in all 29 games with 28 points (14g-14a). She scored a hat-trick against UW-Superior and was named the Falcon of the Week one time. Madison Lavergne joined the Falcons as a forward from Warroad, Minn. where she played for the Warroad High School hockey team. As a senior, she was her team’s captain and helped lead the Warriors to a Minnesota State Tournament Championship and finished the season with 16 goals and 16 assists for 32 points. She was named to the All-Conference team as a junior and senior, and was on the National Honor Society. She is the daughter of Katie and Rene Lavergne, and she is majoring in Exercise and Sports Science. <Back